What is the standard treatment for Minimal Change Disease?

The standard treatment for Minimal Change Disease is corticosteroids, which are effective in reducing the inflammation that leads to the condition's characteristic nephrotic syndrome. Minimal Change Disease is often associated with significant proteinuria and edema, and corticosteroids can prompt rapid improvement in kidney function and reduce protein loss in urine.

Corticosteroids work by modulating the immune response, which is thought to play a role in the disease's pathophysiology. While many patients respond well to corticosteroids, the treatment's effectiveness is monitored, and some patients may experience relapses or require long-term management.

In contrast, options like diuretics are used to manage symptoms such as edema but do not address the underlying disease process. Antihypertensives may be necessary if hypertension develops, but they do not treat the condition itself. Immunosuppressants are generally reserved for cases that are resistant to corticosteroids or when there is a secondary cause of nephrotic syndrome, rather than being a first-line treatment for Minimal Change Disease.